How a budget surplus emerged from a back room
Surprise! When the 2008 fiscal year ended, on June 30, the state had a General Fund surplus of $56 million, so the shortfall in reality was considerably smaller than predicted — $134 million.
By LANCE TAPLEY | August 27, 2008

Letters to the Portland editor, August 22, 2008

Rogue Dead Guy Ale is not an IPA
We don’t expect every customer to love our establishment.
By LETTERS TO THE PORTLAND EDITOR | August 20, 2008

I've heard that story before

Politics and other mistakes
Each year, Governor John Baldacci announces his top priority in the next legislative session will be reducing the state income tax. (“Lack of political clout? What lack of political clout?”)
By AL DIAMON | August 20, 2008

Time for a clean sweep?

A former guard calls for prison reform
In early 2007, Rhonda Dawson, a thoughtful, candid, 45-year-old African-American guard at the Maine State Prison in Warren, quit her job after four years because, she says, of racist taunting from her fellow correctional officers.
By LANCE TAPLEY | July 23, 2008

They call me Mr. Lucky

Politics and other mistakes
Nominations are now open for the 2008 award for most politically inept person in Maine.
By AL DIAMON | July 16, 2008

Torture for the hostage-taker?

Prison watch
Will Michael Chasse, the inmate who allegedly held two people hostage on June 30 at the Maine State Prison, now be tortured by Governor John Baldacci’s administration?
By LANCE TAPLEY | July 09, 2008

We told you so

FairPoint’s phone-line takeover is as bad as regulators feared.
FairPoint’s transition has been slow, and is already four months behind schedule.
By JEFF INGLIS | July 02, 2008

Man of mischief

Politics and other mistakes
Let’s see if I can fill a whole column by making jokes about violent sex offenders.
By AL DIAMON | July 02, 2008

Sierra Club under fire from coastal activists

Conservation
Two coastal advocacy organizations are accusing the Sierra Club of backing down from its position as a protector of Sears Island, a large, uninhabited island off Maine’s Down East coast.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 04, 2008

Getting real

Activists gather sigs to oppose ‘Real ID’
Activists are teaming up in outrage against the Maine’s seeming acquiescence to federal “Real ID” demands.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | May 21, 2008

Taking from the poor

Democratic lawmakers show their Republican values
What values do Maine’s Democrats hold?
By LANCE TAPLEY | May 07, 2008

Shields up

Press releases
Reporters around the state should mark two dates on their calendars.
By JEFF INGLIS | May 07, 2008

Twist in my story

Politics and other mistakes
This is a cautionary tale about people who don’t know what they’re talking about.
By AL DIAMON | April 23, 2008

Maine stings from a slap on the wrist

Real ID
Like a rebellious older sibling, Maine was the first state to pass a resolution rejecting "Real ID" in January 2007, and followed up five months later with a law preventing the state from participating.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | April 09, 2008

Fishing for filmmakers

Maine struggles to attract the movie industry
When you can make Shreveport look like Bridgton for less money, what’s the bottom-line allure of filming in Maine?
By DEIRDRE FULTON | April 02, 2008

A watchdog of the labyrinth

Politics and other mistakes
It costs Maine legislators almost a million bucks a year to hire somebody to embarrass them.
By AL DIAMON | April 02, 2008

Jump to it

Politics and other mistakes
Tax reform is the Evel Knievel of political issues. It gives us the most pleasure when it crashes and burns.
By AL DIAMON | March 19, 2008

Know your superdelegates

Democratic insiders in Maine and throughout the country will decide the party's nominee
If they choose wisely, they’ll follow the will of the people all the way into the Oval Office.
By BRIDGET HUBER | March 12, 2008

The outsiders

None of Maine’s indy candidates can win a seat in the US Senate, but they will have a say in who does
Just a few months ago, the story-line of Maine’s 2008 US Senate race seemed inevitable.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 05, 2008

Still da baddest

Politics and other mistakes
Is your county commissioner on steroids?
By AL DIAMON | March 05, 2008

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